Nesphostylis Verdc.

Perennial climbing herb. Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; stipules not spurred, persistent; stipels present. Inflorescences axillary, the flowers solitary; peduncles glandular at the apex. Calyx 5-lobed; lower lobes ovate or triangular, the upper pair entirely joined to form a broad subtruncate lip. Corolla medium-sized, blue or purple; standard rounded, auriculate and with 2 oblique flap-like appendages, glabrous. Vexillary stamen-filament free and with a distinct tooth at its base; all filaments markedly dilated at the apex; 5 basifixed anthers alternating with 5 subdorsifixed anthers. Ovary linear, many-ovuled; style somewhat twisted, thickened and terete basally, thinning apically and flattened into a fish-tail-like expansion; stigma terminal, with a ring of hairs below it. Pods linear, compressed, many-seeded, thinly filled between the seeds, the style not persistent. Seeds oblong-ovoid; aril well developed, much thickened towards the narrow end of the seed.